I was wrong about FIRE, here's what changed - Aussie Firebug

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May 19, 2025

Join Matt, aka Aussie Firebug, a leading voice in Australia's FIRE movement, as he reflects on a decade of chasing financial independence. He shares how he saved 70% of his income and evolved his perspective on FIRE. Discover his investment strategies that built a $1.5m portfolio, and why aligning money goals with life experiences is crucial. Matt also offers invaluable advice for newcomers to the FIRE community, emphasizing the balance of saving and living fully. Tune in for insights that could reshape your financial journey!

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ANECDOTE

Extreme Saving for FIRE

Matt saved 70% of his after-tax income for several years to aggressively pursue FIRE.
He used detailed spreadsheets and analytics to track and optimize his savings rate.

INSIGHT

Autonomy Boosts Job Satisfaction

Work satisfaction improves with career progression due to gaining autonomy and meaning.
Early jobs often lack purpose, making the 9-to-5 grind feel like just clocking in for money.

ANECDOTE

Quitting to Travel and Enjoy Life

Matt quit his job after a promotion to travel overseas, choosing lifestyle over strict FIRE tracking.
He stopped meticulously tracking spending to enjoy travel and life more freely.

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Aussie Firebug is one of the biggest names in the Australian FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) community.

In today's episode of the podcast we catch up with Aussie Firebug, aka Matt, and unpack the past 10 years of his FIRE journey and what has changed along the way.

Tune in to hear:

Why Matt originally decided to pursue FIRE and his original goals
How we managed to save 70% of his after-tax income
Why his views on FIRE started to change
The investment strategy he pursued to build a $1.5m portfolio
How he thinks about FIRE now
Advice he would share to anyone starting out on FIRE today

Whatever your view on FIRE, this was a great conversation to hear how one ordinary Australian used investing in stocks and property to achieve financial freedom and give himself choice in his life.

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